Benzema backs Real for title

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema believes that his side deserve to be considered favourites to win the La Liga title this season.

Jose Mourinho’s men have bounced back well from last month’s disappointing 3-1 Clasico defeat at home to Barcelona and are now five points clear of their Catalan rivals at the top of the table.

Benzema says that Real are brimming with belief at the moment and has a simple message for the fans.

“Always bet on us,” he told AS. “Every game we go out to win. Now we’re fine, we are first and we will continue to do our best to win this league.”

On a personal level, Benzema revealed that after a trying start to his Real career, he is now enjoying his football like never before.

“I am only 24 and I will work hard to keep it up because I’m physically and mentally well,” the former Lyon striker declared. “I’m playing many games and scoring a lot of goals.”

Benzema’s teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo, has cut a somewhat disillusioned figure of late, with the Portuguese forward said to have been hurt by criticism by some sections of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd.

However, the Frenchman is confident that his colleague will get the fans back on his side again.

“I hope so because he is a great player and when we play together, he will provide many balls for me to score,” Benzema added.